Colorful Trees And Shrubs

‘Twist of Lime’ abelia from Garden Debut is a compact evergreen shrub with glossy, variegated leaves and fragrant flowers that are attractive to wildlife. It has bright yellow leaves with green centers when young, maturing later in the season to a rich ivory and green. ‘Twist of Lime’ also produces a heavy bloom of fragrant, white-tinged-pink clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers that appear over a continuous period from late spring to fall. This abelia reaches 4 to 5 feet tall and grows best in USDA Zones 6 to 10.

‘Golden Ruby’ is a slow-growing compact plant with striking coral-orange foliage that’s accented with a golden margin. This barberry makes a great landscape plant for mass plantings or an eye-catching color contrast. Its compact growth habit – only 2 feet tall and wide – makes it a low-maintenance selection. ‘Golden Ruby’ prefers full sun, is deciduous and grows best in Zones 4 to 8.

‘Golden Triumph’ is a low-growing, compact Japanese boxwood with shiny green foliage that features golden-yellow margins. It works great as a contrast plant and because ‘Golden Triumph’ is a slower grower, it works well in foundation plantings or to create a unique pattern or framework in a formal garden. This boxwood requires full sun or dappled shade, performs well in the heat and grows best in Zones 4 to 9.

Lo & Behold ‘Blue Chip,’ a Proven Winners ColorChoice shrub, is the first in a new series of miniature Butterfly Bush that stands just 24 to 30 inches tall and forms a tiny mound. This buddleia does not need pruning or deadheading, it is drought and deer resistant and can be used as a groundcover, low hedge or in containers. ‘Blue Chip’ blooms continuously from mid-summer to fall and requires full sun.

‘Oregon Blue’ is a graceful, broad columnar shrub with soft, steel blue foliage that reaches a height of 15 feet. This chamaecyparis from Garden Splendor requires sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained sites that are kept on the dry side. ‘Oregon Blue’ grows best in Zone 5.

‘Berry Dazzle,’ the newest variety in the Gardener’s Confidence Collection, makes its debut this year. ‘Berry Dazzle’ is a dwarf crapemyrtle with brilliant fuchsia-purple blooms that feature unique red new growth. The crapemyrtle only grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide, so it’s an excellent addition to any garden.

‘Ryusen’ from Novalis is excellent for narrow spaces and offers beautiful fall colors. This Japanese Maple includes a diverse group of exquisite hybrids that vary considerably in leaf shape – from deeply cut lace-leaf varieties to the typical Maple leaf. ‘Ryusen’ grows 10 to 12 feet tall, takes full sun to partial shade and needs moist, well-drained soil.

‘Bloomerang’ is a remarkable new lilac with fragrant purple flowers that burst forth in spring and again in mid-summer, continuing right up until frost. This Proven Winners ColorChoice shrub has a compact, full-growth habit and small leaves that make it an excellent shrub for smaller gardens. ‘Bloomerang’ grows 4 to 5 feet tall, 4 feet wide and requires full to partial shade. It grows best in Zone 3.

‘Superstar’ is a smaller, naturally dwarf First Editions spiraea from Bailey Nurseries that requires minimal pruning. Its new leaves start out scarlet red, become dark green and change to a brilliant bronze color in the fall. Pink blossoms cover the plant through the summer. ‘Superstar’ grows 2 to 3 feet tall and spreads 3 to 4 feet. It takes full sun and grows best in Zones 3 to 8.

‘Snow-N-Summer’ Asiatic jasmine from Garden Debut has glossy, fine-textured foliage and pink and white leaves. It performs well when used in containers and has a moderate growth rate that exhibits a compact spreading to mounding habit that can be pruned or sheared to control height and spread.

Ulmus americana ‘Princeton,’ the Princeton American Elm from Sharp Top Trees, is a Dutch Elm Disease-resistant native elm with about 15 years of testing by the U.S. National Arboretum. It is available in quarts, from 3-gallon to 30-gallon and B&B from 2 to 5 inches. This grand tree grows quickly and features tall arching canopy and butter fall color.